Vanderveer voorhees



Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE VANDERVEIER VOORHEES,OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COM PANY, OF WHITING,INDIANA,- A CORIORATION OF INDIANA ANTIKNOCK GASOLINE No Drawing.

This invention relates to anti-knock gasoline of the vapor phase type,which results from the cracking of petroleum oils at high temperaturesand in the vapor phase, Whereby anti-knock qualities which are, forexample, equivalent to those of a straight-run midcontinent gasolinecontaining from about 1.2 to 4 cos. tetraethyl lead per gallon areobtained. I

In order more fully to define the gasoline to which the presentinvention relates, it may be stated that such a gasoline with 425 F. endpoint, has an A. P. I. gravity of about 49 to 55, an unsaturated contentas determined by sulfuric acid absorption and polymerization exceeding40% 'and usually above 45%, and an oxygen absorption induction period ofless than 125 minutes when subjected to test under the conditions setforth in co-pending application, Serial No. 211,554, filed August 8,1927, by T. H. Rogers and the present inventor.

The anti-knock qualities of such gasoline vary Within wide limits,depending primarily upon the conditions of manufacture and, also,

the crude oil from which it is derived.

It has now been discovered that gasoline of this type possesses theserious disadvantage that during the course of time, the anti-knockquality seriouslydeteriorates. Average measurements made on a largenumber of samples of vapor phase anti-knock gasoline show conclusivelythat the anti-knock quality deteriorates progressively with time ofstorage Thus, such gasolines, having an averageantiknock of about 1 to 3ccs. of tetraethyl lead per gallon of a standard gasoline, suflered adeterioration of anti-knock uality of about 25% in two months, in vemonths and 75% in nine months. At the end of twelve months, theanti-knock value was approximately zero for many samples.

This deterioration of anti-knock quality raises a serious economicproblem since it is frequently impossible to avoid the storage ofgasoline in bulk for substantial periods of time. The loss involvedamounts to substantial sums of money since the anti-knock quality is ofsubstantial value, representing a pre- 50 mium of several cents pergallon.

Application filed December 15, 1928. Serial No. 326,414.

I have now discovered that vapor phase cracked gasoline, which hasdeteriorated with respect to anti-knock qualities, may be restoredsubstantially to its original degree of anti-knock effectiveness byredistillation to end point, leaving a small quantity of residue, of theorder of 1%. Average results from a large number of experimentsindicated that such gasolines which have substantially completelydeteriorated with respect to antiknock qualities are restored in thisway, to the extent of about 90% of their original anti-knock value.Gasoline which has deteri orated to a lesser extent is restored evencloser to its original effectiveness.

I claim:

1. The method of regenerating the antiknock qualities of vapor phasecracked gasoline having a substantial initial anti-knock eifectivenessequivalent to those of straight run mid-continent gasoline containingupward of one to two cubic centimeters of lead tetra ethyl per gallon,which gasoline has de teriorated in anti-knock elfectiveness duringstorage for a substantial period of time, which consists in subjectingsaid gasoline to a noncracking redistillation, leaving a small quantityof residue, of the order of one percent.

2. The method of regenerating the antiknock qualities of vapor phasecracked gasoline having a substantial initial anti-knock efi'ectivenessequivalent to those of straight run mid-continent gasoline containing upward of one to two cubic centimeters of lead tetra ethyl per gallon,which gasoline has deteriorated in anti-knock effectiveness duringstorage for a substantial period of time, which consists in subjectingsaid gasoline to a non-cracking redistillation, leaving a residue of atleast one percent.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day ofDecember, 1928.

VAN'DERVEER VOORHEES.

